Monsoon across the country has been deficient by 4%.
The price of pulses can only go north in the coming weeks. The top pulse producing regions have not received enough rain so far and will see the dry phase continuing for the next 10 days, the meteorological department has warned.
The monsoon has been deficient in the key pulse-growing regions of south and western India. The rain deficiency in Karnataka, parts of Maharashtra, Marathwada and Gujarat has been increasing since July 1.
The deficiency level may increase in the next 10 days LS Rathore, Director General of IMD told NDTV.
"We need a contingency plan. We are advising farmers... for the crops already planted, they should make arrangements for proper irrigation," said Mr Rathore.
A dry monsoon can come as a blow to farmers, who already had one harvest wiped out due to the unseasonal rains and frost in March. Nine states had been hit, including most in the south, west and central India.
A good monsoon was expected to recoup the losses and also bring down the food prices. But over the last 10 days, since the monsoon covered all of India, the rainfall has been 4% deficient.
There has been 7% less rains in south, central India is seeing a monsoon shortfall as well with a deficiency of 8%.
Monsoon is currently active in northwest India with 9% surplus rain but that too has been reducing.
The dryness in southern and western India is a matter great concern, the IMD chief said, since this is where core cereals, pulses and oil seeds are produced.
Pulses inflation has already been rising month on month. Under CPI, pulses inflation was 16.62% in May vs 12.52% in April.
Agricultural economists have already been warning about pulses inflation this year and that may put more pressure on the imports.
The regions that have faced the most deficiency so far are Gujarat (36%), Marathwada (34%) and coastal Karnataka (32%).